🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Saeng Chan Waterfall sits inside Pha Taem National Park, in the Ban Thung Na Mueang area, Na Pho Klang Subdistrict, Khong Chiam District, Ubon Ratchathani. It's formed by the Huai Tha Long stream, which runs across a sandstone shelf and then drops at a spot where the rock has been bored into a round hole. So the water flows down through that hole in a single stream rather than spreading across a cliff face like most waterfalls. That shape is why the place has been talked about as one of Isan's odd corners ever since people started promoting off-the-beaten-track travel around 20 years ago.
Its two names come from two different angles. Locals call it the hole waterfall (Nam Tok Long Ru) for the way the water drops through the hole in the rock. The name Saeng Chan, meaning moonlight, comes from the moment light passes through the hole and onto the stream — the spray scatters into a soft white that looks like moonlight, especially on a full-moon night, when the moon is said to shine straight down through the hole. It's a name that sounds more romantic than the place actually looks, but once you understand where it comes from, you can picture why someone named it that way.
Why the water falls through a hole in the rock
The interesting part of Saeng Chan Waterfall is the stone hole itself. A round hole like this in a sandstone shelf is what geologists call a pothole — it forms when pebbles and small stones swirl around in the current and slowly grind down through the softer sandstone, a little at a time, over thousands or even tens of thousands of years until they bore right through the rock layer and leave a channel for the water to pass through. Standing below, you see the water shoot down from the hole in the rock ceiling in a single stream — a sight that's nothing like a waterfall pouring straight over a cliff.
The waterfall isn't very tall — it's a small, single-tier drop — so the appeal is in its shape and the setting around it rather than any grand scale. Anyone coming here expecting a big waterfall might find it smaller than they imagined. But if you're coming to see something unusual that's hard to find elsewhere in Isan, this really does give you a different picture from any other waterfall.
Straight talk
Saeng Chan is a small waterfall, and it only has water in the rainy season. Come in the wrong season and you'll see nothing but a dry stone shelf and the hole in the rock ceiling — no water at all. So timing matters here far more than at most waterfalls. Check that there's been enough rain before you set out, so you don't make the trip for nothing.
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Which month has the best water
Because Saeng Chan's water depends on the rain, when you go decides whether you'll see any flow at all. The park recommends roughly July to January — from the middle of the rains through the early cool season — when the stream has enough water to drop clearly through the hole.
- Rainy season (July–September) — the most water. The stream pours through the hole full and strong, and everything around is lush green. This is when the waterfall is at its best, but the stone shelf can be slippery, so watch your step.
- Late rains, early cool season (October–December) — still enough water to see a clear stream, the air starts to cool, and the sky is clearer than in the rains. This is the most comfortable time to visit and pairs well with the other spots in Pha Taem.
- January (late cool season) — the water starts to thin out but is still there. If the rains came well that year, you can still catch the stream. Check the water level before you go.
- Hot season (February–June) — mostly dry, with just the stone shelf and the hole left. Not recommended if you're coming to see the waterfall.
About the moonlight name
The name Saeng Chan comes from the image of a full-moon night with moonlight shining straight down through the hole. In practice, though, most people visit during the day, since the park is only open during daytime hours. To actually see it at night you'd need to arrange it with the park first — don't expect to swing by for the moonlight after dark the way the name suggests.
Getting there from Ubon city
Saeng Chan Waterfall is in Khong Chiam District, the same direction as Pha Taem but in a different zone, about 41 km from the Pha Taem National Park headquarters. Counting from Ubon Ratchathani city, it's roughly 90–110 km depending on the route you take, around a 2-hour drive from town. Most of it is paved road; the final stretch into the park narrows down, so drive carefully, especially in the rains when the road can be slippery.
- Private car / rental — the most convenient option, since the sights around Khong Chiam are spread far apart. From town, take the road toward Khong Chiam, then turn off following the signs toward Ban Thung Na Mueang. Several places in Ubon city rent cars.
- Motorbike — good for solo travelers or a pair. It's a fair distance, so allow extra time and breaks, and watch for slick roads in the rainy season.
- Chartered car from town — if you'd rather not drive, you can hire a car round-trip and add other stops around Khong Chiam. Agree on the price before you set off.
- Khong Chiam day-trip tour — some hotels and tour companies in Ubon offer packages that bundle Pha Taem, the waterfalls, and the Two-Colored River in one day. Good if you don't want to plan it yourself.
Because the waterfall itself doesn't take long to see, most people don't come here on its own — they bundle it with other spots around Khong Chiam to make the drive worthwhile. Plan it well and you can do the lot in a single day from town.
More stops around Khong Chiam, all in one day
Saeng Chan Waterfall is in the same zone as Khong Chiam's headline sights, none of them far apart, so you can easily fit them into one trip. Below are the spots people most often pair it with.
Pha Taem National Park
A sandstone cliff above the Mekong, with prehistoric rock paintings 3,000–4,000 years old and a viewpoint over the river facing east. It's the main stop everyone who comes to Khong Chiam has to make.
Mushroom rocksSao Chaliang
A cluster of mushroom-shaped stone pillars carved by wind and water over millions of years, right by the road before the Pha Taem headquarters. An easy photo stop, and another symbol of Ubon.
Two-Colored River
The spot where the pale Mun River meets the reddish-brown Mekong, with a clear line between the two colors during high water. There's a riverside market where you can stop for river fish.
Soi Sawan Waterfall
Two streams meeting in a drop about 20 m high. In the late rains and early cool season, fields of wildflowers bloom around it at the same time. Also within the Pha Taem zone.
A sensible order is to start at Pha Taem in the morning while the sun is still soft, catch Sao Chaliang on the way, then drive on to Saeng Chan Waterfall and Soi Sawan Waterfall around mid-morning, and finish with the Two-Colored River and a river-fish lunch by the Mekong. It makes for a well-paced single day out from town.
Entry fee and opening hours
Saeng Chan Waterfall is inside Pha Taem National Park, so getting in falls under the park's management. It's open for visits during daytime hours, and the fees follow the national park department's rates. The prices below are approximate and may change, so bring some cash to be safe.
- Thai visitors — about ฿40 for adults and ฿20 for children per person (Pha Taem National Park rate).
- Foreign visitors — about ฿200 for adults and ฿100 for children per person.
- Vehicle fee — about ฿30 per car; motorbikes are cheaper.
- Opening hours — open for visits roughly 08:00–16:30. Go in the morning to early afternoon to give yourself enough time.
Check before you go
Because the waterfall depends on rainfall, and park fees are adjusted from time to time, it's safest to call the Pha Taem National Park office at 045-252-581 before you travel. Ask both whether there's currently enough water in the waterfall and whether the access route to the waterfall is open as usual, so you don't drive all that way only to find a dry stone shelf.
What to prepare before you go
- Non-slip shoes — the stone shelf around the waterfall is wet and slippery in the rains. Sneakers or shoes with good grip help a lot.
- Allow extra travel time — it's a long way from town and the sights are spread out, so set out early and plan the order of your stops well.
- Bring water and snacks — there are few shops around the waterfall, so pack drinking water and something to eat.
- Cash — the park fee and most local shops take cash, and phone signal and convenience stores are limited out here.
- Take your trash with you — this is a natural site inside a national park, so help by not leaving litter and not carving into or damaging the stone shelf.
Plan a full Ubon trip — where to stay, eat, and what to see
See the Ubon Ratchathani travel guide →